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No reason for me to resign, says Thettayil

Jose Thettayil, MLA, who was caught on camera in a compromising position with a woman, said he would not resign from the State Assembly and would continue as a legislator.

“There is no reason for not continuing as a legislator,” said Mr. Thettayil in his first public appearance after the woman filed a complaint against him. He spoke to reporters from the residence of the lawyer who represented him in the High Court.

P.J. Varghese, the CPI(M) Angamaly area secretary, who accompanied Mr. Thettayil, alleged that the sex video and complaint against the legislator was part of a conspiracy hatched by two brothers of a Congress Minister from the district.

About the time the woman had filed a police complaint, the duo had hinted that a big breaking news was in the offing. The brothers also claimed that once the story broke, the Oommen Chandy government would be salvaged from the political crisis it was in. These factors lent credence to the conspiracy theory, he said.

Mr. Thettayil, who remained non-committal throughout the interaction with the media, said he committed no mistakes. .

While admitting that he knew the woman and her family from 2006 as voters in his constituency, Mr. Thettayil said there were no plans to give her his son’s hand in marriage.

“I know the woman as a voter in my constituency and I don’t have any business deals with her.” On the demand of the Communist Party of India and Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanadan for his resignation on moral grounds, the legislator said his party had taken a stand on the issue. He also said he had explained the developments to his party earlier.

“I have full faith in the courts and judiciary. I have submitted my contentions before the court. It will not be appropriate to publically discuss the merits and demerits of a case which is under the consideration of the court. It may even amount to contempt of court. Let the court decide on the case. I don’t have anything much to explain,” Mr. Thettayil said.